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THE LIFE OF GEN. GEORGE B. M'CLELLAN. 



The distinguished topic of this brief biography waa 
bora in the City of Broth* rly Love, in 1826. 

Eis fath'^r whs a Quaker, which accouuts for the pacific 
teudencies alwajs shown by the son. 

It used to be the custom, when a boy was fit for d jth- 
ing else, to send him to school at West Point. 

Lil.tle George B. was sent to West Point at the age c / 
sixteen. 

At that time the army had nothing to do ; eo when 
George h;id finished learoiiig how to be soldier, he en- 
tered the Anny. There is a certain fascinai n about mili- 
tary life, that often leads even the humblest follow the 
profession of arms. 




THE IimiBLEST, FOLLOWING THE PROFESSION 

It may be well to state, in this connection that our 
hero was called George Brinton McClellan, because that 
was bis name. 

Unhappily for him, at about the period of his eateriog 



2 



THE LIFE OF GEORGE B. M CLELLAN. 



the Array, the Mexican war broke out. This event was, 
properly speaking, the beginning of the life now to be re- 
lated. 

His reputation has never hitherto been spared, and it is 
not proposed to spare his life on this occasion. It will 
not. however, be a long life. 

George went to Mexico for an excellent reason. He 
couldn't help himself. The same reason, probably, waa 
not devoid of weight in persuading him to stay there. 
He fought in two battles — maybe three — and was brevet- 
ted Captain. 

In this capacity, he took a Mexican prisoner. Peace 
was soon declared, probably in consequence, and George, 
being a good boy, came home. 

He was then made instructor at West Point, and taught 
the young idea how to shoot. 




THE YOUNG IDEA, LEARNING HOW TO SHOOT. 

At West Point he endeared himself to all his pupils and 
fellow officers, on account of the sweetness of his temper. 
Even as a child, George had been noted for his dislike to 
fight or quarrel. 

This reluctance to fight has been observed as a charac- 
teriatic of his later life also. 



THE LIFE OP GEORGE B. M CLELLAN. d 

In view of this, the Government did not insist upon hia 
aking part in the Indian troubles, or frontier duties gen- 
■erally, but set him the more congenial task of surveying 
and laying out railroads It was thea that he wrote the 
beautiful madrigal, since become so popular : " I am 
monarch of all I survey." 

Fe laid out the route of the Pacific road, and was liked 
"by the poor but hono-^t peasants along that line. Siiela- 
coom and Yakima still remember him with pledsure. 

After this he was sent oa a se^-ret mission to the West 
India Islands. He landed there in 1853, but what he did 
8 not revealed. 




LITTLE MAC LANDING AT THE WEST INDIA ISLANDS. 



On his return he was promoted to a fall captaiocy, and 
went to the Crimea, where the Anglo-Franco-Kussian war 
was then going smoothly on. 

Here, without exposing himself unnecessarily, he made 
some important observations, and learned how to muddle 
army affairs with the greatest ease and least responsibility, 
a sort of knowledge that has since stood him in good 
Bteid. On this and other subjects, he prepared a very 



4 THE LIFE OF GEOKGE B. m'cLELLAN". 

thick book, which is thought to have been read clear 
through by several persons. 




LITTLE MAC NOT EXPOSING HIMSELF UNNECESSARILY. 

It was now the happy year of 1857, and Little Mac de- 
termined to show some real and tani^^bie evidence of his 
love of country. This he did in the most obvious manuer 
by resiguiafj from the army. 

His resign ition wiis instantly accppted. and he ass^uraed 
the ra-^ve pe^ic ful and appropriate position nf Vice-Presi- 
dent of an Illinois Hai'road Company. From that statif>n 
be passed 'o the superintendt-ncy of the Ohio and Mis^sia -• 
eippiline, and Una ly to the Pie-idency of the same. He 
now lived in Cincinnati, ate pork, drank Catawba, got 
rich and was happy. 

Perhaps he might have b^en at it yet. had not his coun- 
try called him to leave his pleasures, and fly, Cincinnatus- 
like, to arms. 

In point of facr, tie rebellion broke out, and Little 
Mac was need* d for a Major ^-^enoral. Almost anybody 
was good enough for a Major General in those times. 

On the s.;cond day of June, 18(j1, Little Mac's firt^t bat- 
tle in the present war came o(F It was " short sharp, and 
decisive," Mid occurred at Philippi. One man was 



THE LIFE OF GEORGE B. m'cLELLAN. 6 

wounded. Little Mac was iKit personally present, but re- 
ceived the thanks of the West Virginia Convention. 




LITTLE MAC CALLED TO ARMS. 

The D<^mocra'ic newspapers now disC'.vered a powerful 
resemblance between George B. and .^^apoleon B. and 
unanimously conferred upon him the title of '• Tlie Yuung 
Napoleon." In order to resemble his great prototype iu 
at least one particular, he then took command of his 
forces in propria per^onoi, and established his headquarters 
at Grafton. 

Bere he asked for reinforcements, and i?sned proclama- 
tions. Soon, however, he became ambitious for ftirther 
excitement, and was attracted to Rich Mountain — probably 
on account of its name— where he met the rebels under 
Pegram, in buckram, and fought a severe battle. His 
loss was said to be about twenty, in all, and the enemy's 
loss about twenty thousand: Of this engagement, he 
wrote four differect reports, with all of which he was 
highly satisfied. 

The defeat of our army at Bull Run, left the President 
without a fit commander-in-chief, so, on recommendation 
of the press, and soforth. Little Mac was placed in com- 
mand of the Potomac Army, amid a very fair specimen of 
a huUaballoo. 



6 THE LJFK OF GEORGE B. M CLELLAJT. 

He found sixty thousand mfii at his disposal, ar.d arr 
Administration disposed to assist him in every re.isoQa>ile 
w^y tliat could conduce to t!ie pnt'in.s: down of the rebel- 
lion. It was at this moment that lie had a remarkable 
dteii«j, which suggested the plan on which he afterwards 
based his labors. 




LITTLE MACS r>BEAM. 

This plan was for the No)thern half of the conintrv to^- 
surround the Konthern half, just as an anaconda might 
surrouad a rail f nee Only threa hnndr'^d thf.usa-dJ 
men, be estiinated. would be required to do the liUlr job. 
One hundred and fifty thousand were then given him, but 
he said he must have over two hundreds thousand to de- 
fend Washington alone. 

To prove how unavailing small forces cjcg against large 
ones, he sent General Stone acrc>s the river with a fevv 
men, to meet the rebels in force, at Ball's Bluff. The re- 
sult is altogether too well known. 

General Scott, observing these facts, got an idea that 
things were & little mixed, and tendered his resignation... 
It was accepted, and Little Mac assumed the place of Old 
€hippewa. There w^as some difference between, the two. 



IHE LIFE OP GEORGE B. m'cLELLAN. 7 

At this period, the city government of the Quaker City 
gave him a sword. 




LITTLE MAC RECEIVING THE QUAKER SWORD. 

George B. now seriously proposed to do something im- 
portant. He did not do it, however, and the rebellion got 
well under way. 

Seeing this, he earnestly advised other commanders to 
do something. He asked one to take Charleston, another 
to take Mobile, another to take New Orleans, and another 
to take Savannah. ^ ' Leave Richmond to me," he said, 
^'Richmond doesn't want taking yet !" 

The people and the President thought differently, and 
nrged Little Mac to go straight to the rebel capital, via 
Mannassas, and to destroy the enemy's army on the road. 

So urgent were these appeals, that the Young Napoleon 
at last consented to move, but not by Mannassas. " What's 
the use ?" he asked ; " we'll only get into a fight and lose 
our men. Now, I know a route where there are no rebels, 
and if I have men enough I can go to Richmond without 
any bloodshed, which will be much easier." 

While this point was being argued, the enemy skedad- 
dled from Mannasses, leaving only a few Quaker guns be- 



8 THE LIFE OF GEOEGE B. M^CLELLAJf. 

Little Mac had no further objections to that route, there- 
after, and the movement, appropriately enough, began oq 
the first of April. 




LITTLE MAC ON ALL FOOLS DAY. 



In due time the army arrived before Yorktown, where, 
to his sorrow, the Young Napoleon discovered a largt> 
body of rebels. He sat down before the city to await its 
evacuation, but the President telegraphed him to go in 
and take it. He replied, " I haven't half men enough. 
Send me reinforcements." 

The President rejoiced that he had more to send, and 
asked what had become of all the men Little Mac had 
boasted of having when he started. To this there was no 
answer, and there came near being a quarrel between the 
beloved general and his superiors at Washington, when, 
all at once, he discovered that the rebels had evacuated 
Yorktown about a week before. 

This greatly simplified the taking of the city. 

Following the retreat of the enemy. Little Mac reached 
Williamsburgh and there found obstacles. 

hortly after the battle then ensuing, the House of Ee- 
rsepentatives passed a vote of thanks to our hero, for the 



THE LIFE OF GEORGE B. M GLELLAN. V 

securing of " high results,-' without d .nger to his Foldiers. 
It has always been recognized that k- tping out of danger 
Wi li f t 




OBSTACLES FOUND BY LITTLE MAC. 

Headquarters were Ihen established at Williamsburg, 
and Little Mac telegraphed to Secretaiy Stanton for rein- 
forcements. 

Two days later, he telegraphed for reinforcements. 

Four days later, he telegraphed to th^ President for re- 
inforcements. 

Both the President and Secretary of War, advising Lit- 
tle Mac to make some use of the men he had already, the 
army advanced and some skirmishing ensued. This re- 
sulted in the battle of Hanover Court House, by which 
Little Mac captured all the railroads except the Freder- 
icksburg and Richmond road. Unfortunately there |i8 
none other in that region. 3n announcing this victory, 
Little Mac earnestly asked for reinforcements. 

Immediately after, with his customary impetuosity, he 
advanced forty rods, but halted near Fair Oaks, and te- 
legraphed to Washington for more men. 

The Rebels, unwilling to wait for the arrival of these 



10 



THE LIFE OF GEORGE B. M CLELLAN. 



fresli?troops, attacked Little Mac at this place, and got 

whipped The beloved General rode valiantly over the 

field as soon as the battle was finished. 

i^He now took up a favorable position on the Chicka- 

hominy. 




LITTLE MAC ON THE CHICKAHOMIlfS'. 

From this highly eligible location he telegraphed ur- 
gently to the President for reinforcements. 

Several Rebel commanders now rode around the Union 
army with their cavalry, and destroyed much property. 
To prevent further accidents of the kind, Little Mac re- 
quested the Government to furnish him with additional 
troops, and announced an intention to write a long letter 
giving him views in detail on the state of the country, its 
position, its population, its products, and its future. This 
is a wonderful proof of his capability for doing several 
things at once. It is believed that he could whistle and 
chew meal simultaneously. 

On the twenty-fifth of June transpired the battle of Oak 
Grove, in the midst of the Chickahominy swamps. The 
peculiar quality of the generalship exhibited by Little 
Mac on that occasion, led the enemy to follow up the ace 
tion with another he next day— that of Mechanicaville — 
the first of the memorab] Seven flays' battles. 



■THE LIFE OF GEORGE B. M CLELLAN. 



11 



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THE SECOND DAY S VICTORY. 



12 THE LIFE OF GEORGE B. m'cLELLAN. 

These were a series of si^lendid victories on the part of 
Little Mac. 

After the triumph of Mechanicsville our beloved h'TO 
found himself at Gaines's Mill, where another set of clean 
laurels awaited him. 

Durins; this actirm Little Mac freqaently telegraphed to 
Washiniiton for reiufoi cements with which to make sure 
of success on the rijiht bank of the Caickahominy, where 
a third fight was inevitable. 



^^^S^^m^\ 




THE THIRD DAY S YICTORY. 



The nation now began to look on with feelings of ad- 
miration and awe. The battle of Allen's Farm closed like 
the foregoing. 

Little Mac requested the President to send him more 
men, and while waiting a reply, fought an engagement at 
Savage's Station. 

The next was a sort of scattering combat on the roads 
of the peninsula, and is known to fame as the battle of 
Nelson's Farm. During its progress, Little Mac unhesita- 
tingly continued his triumphant advance away from Rich- 
mond, and reached the field of Malvern Hill in time for a 
new fight the next day. 



THE LIFE OF GEORGE B 



. m'clellan. 13 




THE FIFTH DAY's VICTOKY. 



14 THE LIFE OP GEORGE B. m'cLELLAN. 

On the first of July, this conqiieiiog hero came to the 
James River, and found himself in proud safety under the 



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THE SIXTH day's ^^CTORY. 

protection of the gunboats. The I?ebel army returned fo 
Richmond annihilated and Little Mac telegraphed to the 
iSecretary of War for reinforcements. 

After resting a week, he amused himself by writing the 
letter before mentioned, detailing his theories concejning 
the country and iis prospects. 

About this time, the President, perfectly satisfied — and 
even satiated- with Little Mac's style, suggested to him 
to retire to Fortress Munroe and to ketp quiet. The he: o 
objected. He liked where he was, and felt safe. The 
President, however, was convinced that he could do bet- 
ter, and Little Mac returned in tears and a government 
transport. 

The troops defending the approaches to Washington 
having all been drawn off to reinforce our beloved hero, 
the Rebels, recovering from their annihilation, at once 
pushed for our national capital, and came pretty near get- 
ting there. Little Mac got there first, however, so the 
enemy went around, and invaded Maryland and Pennsyl- 
vania. The President at once sent the army of the Poto- 



THE LIFE OF GEORGE B. m'cLELLAN. 15 

mac after the invaders, and the battles of South Mountain 
and Antietam took place. 

*' I will bag their entire force," wrote Little SJac ; 
" please send four or five thousand fresh troops." 

Unfortunately, he felt so tired after the affair at An- 
tietam that he fell asleep on the wrong side of the Poto- 
mac. Next morning when he went to bag Lee and his 
army, there wasn't any Lee there. 

•' I don't think the Rebels will come back here,'' wrote 
Little Mac again ; '' but I shall stay here to see. Send 
me reinforcements." The President replied, " I think you 
had better cross the Potomac and see if you can't fin' 
some Rebels to whip ; that is my idea of conductin ^e 
war." This was the 8th of October. The or • r was 
obeyed on the 1st of November, and, curiousi y enough, 
Little Mac was relieved of his command on 5th of the 
same month. 




LITTLE MACS FAREWELL TO HIS OFFICERS. 

He bade farewell to his brothers-in-arms, and left for 
Trenton, NJ. 
Trenton has been perfectly safe ever since. 



u 



IRE LIKE OF GEORGE B. M CLELLAN. 



Here in 'he ppucef'.il lix^rorn of Jersey, our hero remained 
writing a loog detence of his glorious caifer and cultivat- 
ing the (lelicite torn ito and the gracefal pquash _unli] the 
men of Peace met ;ifc Oiiiciigo and nomitiatod him for the 
Presidency. He accepted the nomination of Peace, in a 
letter in ^rhich he'advocated the most warlilte measures. 




LITTLE MACS LAST GREAT FEAT. 

This is the last noteworthy act of uis lif.', so fa; as heard 
L'om. 



The End. 






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